Sustainable Construction

DESCRIPTIONThe two-year Sustainable Construction program takes students from start to finish in the design/build process and combines conventional stick framing and the millennia-old craft of timber frame joinery with the latest in building systems technology. Valued skills in communication, applied math, and critical thinking are developed in tandem with practical introductions to trades like welding, plumbing, weatherization, and more. Students will take specialized courses during the second year in both finish carpentry and architectural restoration.

The coursework provides students with the technical knowledge and hands-on skills needed to pursue employment across many areas of the construction industry including carpentry, project management, design, building inspection, and renewable energy installation. The two-year program is designed to fast track graduates to leadership positions from construction supervisor to business owner.

More Sustainable Construction Information...

PROGRAM MISSIONTo prepare students to be lifelong learners and help them achieve various professional and personal goals that may arise over a lifetime. Upon graduation, students will be poised to enter the workforce as entry-level craftsmen, builders, and technicians or transfer to other college and university programs. Our graduates will develop as skilled professionals who value both tradition and innovation at the heart of sustainable building practices today, and who actively participate in reinvigorating Maine's construction industry.

Criteria for GraduationStudents must complete 60 credits in the Sustainable Construction program and achieve a minimum grade of “C” in all core courses (*). Students must achieve a final GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Kennebec Valley Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer.

Made up of area employers, industry leaders, and community members, the Sustainable Construction Program Advisory Committee’s primary purpose is to help the College ensure that the program is relevant to the community, addresses current industry standards, meets workforce needs, and has appropriate resources to support high quality student outcomes. To accomplish this purpose, the advisory committee focuses on the specific functions of program development, curriculum review, program evaluation, instructor guidance, student recruitment, retention, and placement.

Past and Current Agendas

Past Meeting Minutes

A cornerstone of this curriculum is our emphasis on sustainability and the need to raise design/build standards throughout Maine and New England. Definitions of “sustainability” or “green,” however, are often broad and varied as they relate to building design and construction.

Our faculty do not prescribe any singular definition of “sustainability” or “green building,” nor do we push the highest possible standards of building performance. Our program simply reinforces the importance of considering a structure's lifespan through smart design, structural integrity, and historic preservation or re-use.

Multiple standards and models exist in the building world in order to ensure occupant health and safety as well as the affordability and environmental impact of the structure itself. The most basic system is the building code, not universally enforced and with only two grades – it either passes or it doesn’t. Other rating systems and certifications are voluntary, and while they remind us of important design/build considerations, they are often too rigorous, complicated, and expensive for the general public to adopt.

Our students are challenged to think about how buildings in New England can be constructed at a higher but achievable level of quality and energy efficiency.

The value of sourcing materials locally, designing a tight, energy efficient building envelope, and generating renewable energy are all practically examined throughout the program. All of this is put into the context of the American building and carpentry tradition through the Architectural Style and Construction in New England course.

Students will learn about: Power/hand tool use and shop safety Building trades, systems, and the thermal envelope Architectural history and restoration Small business planning and project management Builder’s engineering, material technology, and green code Blueprint reading, drafting, and 3D modeling Sustainable Construction graduates work in/on:Contracting firms on a project management or design path Small timber frame or conventional construction businesses Housing non-profits and building inspection agencies Renewable energy and weatherization services

Certifications and Training in the program may include:

OSHA 10

1st Aid and CPR

Fire Safety Training

Credits towards NABCEP Entry Level Solar Photovoltaic Certificate

Rigger Level 1 and Signalperson

Residential Construction Superintendent

Restoration Carpentry

Approved Timber Framers Guild Apprenticeship Hours

Many of our skills standards are derived from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and our curriculum and assessments are based on the NAHB’s Residential Construction Academy (RCA) textbooks published by the Home Builders Institute (HBI), the educational arm of the NAHB.

Sustainable Construction Required Tools

The tools listed below identify suggested brands, models, and price and are suggestions only. All first year students must be in possession of these tools by the end of the second week of classes. Students must be in possession of second year tools prior to the start of the third semester. Please contact your advisor well in advance of the semester if financial aid will be used. Emergency advances may be available to pay for required materials such as textbooks and tools.

“Build a Small Timber Frame House.” Small House Workshop Series: Part 1 January 8 - 12, 2018, $600

Learn to build a small house through the millennia old craft of timber framing. Students will focus on layout, cutting, joinery, and raising a timber frame. Students will learn the “square rule” method, gain confidence with hand tools, and learn some modern advantages of power tools. This is Part 1 of a Small House Workshops Series to see the structure from start to completion.

Master the band saw and simple fasteners to create your very own Adirondack chair. Useful measuring and marketing techniques will be covered in addition to finish methods and an introduction to wood structure and care. No Prior woodworking experience is necessary to create heirloom quality furniture, though, as in most things, it certainly doesn’t hurt!

AutoCAD in the Workplace is a foundation course to teach the most commonly used features of AutoCAD for use in a business or industrial setting. Students will be introduced to two dimensional (2D) drafting commands, dimensioning, drawing setup, and plotting. Covered topics will include mechanical, architectural and electrical drawings, the limitations of 2D design, CAD naming conventions, and file management.

Join us for an introduction to timber framing. Learn a basic knowledge of timber frame joinery, care and use of hand tools and sharpening methods while you learn to build and raise a timber frame pergola. Students will lay out joints on timbers, cut, and shape joints using saws, and learn rule of thumb techniques for joinery.

Learn the basics of set construction for film, television, theater, and commercial work in this hands on two-week workshop led by Master Carpenter and IATSE Local 481 union representative, Eric Matheson. With over 80 feature films under his belt including The Crucible, The Cider House Rules, Empire Falls, and R.I.P.D., Eric will guide students through a practical introduction to the basic duties of the set construction department. Along the way, students will explore industry terminology, best practices, the role of different departments on set, set protocol, budgets, and the realities of working in the entertainment industry. This experiential program is for those with basic carpentry skills who wish to learn specific methods and practices through the actual construction of a set completed by the end of week two.

"This program is funded by a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration. This is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action program, adaptive equipment will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities."